Sambomaster

Sambomaster
is a Japanese rock band signed by Sony Music Japan. The band's name, Sambomaster, refers to the Russian martial art called Sambo.
History
Lead vocalist and guitarist Takashi Yamaguchi first met drummer Yasufumi Kiuchi at a university music club where they were both members. The duo ran into bassist Yoichi Kondo during February 2000, and the three went on to officially form the band now known as Sambomaster. They made their debut at a live house in Tokyo's Kōenji district and soon followed this up with the self-production of their first single "Kick no Oni" (Kicking Demons), which they spent nearly a year working on. It was subsequently released in April 2001 as a limited edition of 300 copies. For the first time, listeners outside of a live show were presented with vocalist and frontman Yamaguchi's vocals, which shift between a soft, sandpaper-like melodic voice to all-out screaming madness. Sambomaster's musical style is a blend of punk/classic rock, pop, jazz and rock ballads.
The year 2003 saw the release of their very first major-label album, Atarashiki Nihongo Rock no Michi to Hikari and a live performance at the Fuji Rock festival's Rookie GO GO. This led to a huge rise in their success and more widespread notoriety. They have been gathering acclaim from both critics and regular listeners ever since.
In 2004 and 2005, Sambomaster released the majority of their hit singles including "Seishun Kyōsōkyoku" and "Sekai wa Sore wo Ai to Yobundaze"; "Seishun Kyōsōkyoku" was used as the fifth opening theme to the hit anime series Naruto, and "Sekai wa sore Ai to Yobunda ze" ended up being the ending theme to the popular Japanese television drama Densha Otoko (and also Nintendo DS game Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2). They were also asked to do the main theme to the movie Koi no Mon, which became the song Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no. Recently, their song Hikari no Rock was featured as the single for the film Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion. In March 2009, their song "Kimi wo Mamotte, Kimi wo Aishite" was announced to be the nineteenth ending song in the hit anime series Bleach. In 2010, they performed the ending theme for the Kuragehime anime, "Kimi no Kirei ni Kizuite Okure". In 2018, their song "Love Song" was used as the ending theme for Tada Never Falls In Love, being covered by the voice actors for the male and female leads.
Parody
In March 2005, 3 members of the television variety show Haneru no Tobira ("You Knock on a Jumping Door!") filmed a comedy sketch called "Busambomaster". The sketch featured a music video parody of the 3 Haneru members pretending to be Sambomaster, playing a Sambomaster-style song called "Iitai koto mo iezuni" (English: "Not even saying what I want to say"). However, the 3 Haneru members also made their faces look like caricatures of Yamaguchi, Kiuichi, and Kondo, with features such as enlarged nostrils, buck teeth, and profuse sweating. The lyrics of the song were also made to humiliate lead vocalist Yamaguchi's tendency to scream his thoughts out to fans before and after songs (and sometimes in the middle of songs). Many Sambomaster fans were offended by the song, and after much protesting, Haneru no Tobira eventually apologized on their show.
Members
Takashi Yamaguchi (山口隆 Yamaguchi Takashi)
Yasufumi Kiuchi (木内泰史 Kiuchi Yasufumi)
Yoichi Kondo (近藤洋一 Kondo Yoichi)
Discography
Singles
"Kick no Oni" (indie) (April 2001)
Introduction
Kung-fu Rock
Golden Circle no Ornette Coleman
Kick no Oni
Saikyō Cyclone
Tsunagari
Sambomaster no Kyūjitsu
YUrnero prO
"Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi" (April 7, 2004)
Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
Netchū Jidai
Dandan
Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru (studio live version)
"Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no" (July 22, 2004)
Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no
Tegami (King of Soul mix)
Itoshiki Hibi (Nashville Skyline version)
Hito wa Sore o Jounetsu to Yobu (live version)
"Seishun Kyōsōkyoku" (December 1, 2004)
Seishun Kyōsōkyoku
Tsunagari (King of Laidback mix)
Ame
Seishun Kyōsōkyoku (Naruto opening mix)
"Utagoe yoo kore" (April 27, 2005)
Utagoe yoo kore
Sad Ballad no Sekai
Seishun Kyōsōkyoku (live version)
"Sekai wa Sore wo Ai to Yobundaze" (August 3, 2005)
Sekai wa Sore o Ai to Yobunda ze
Atsui Suna to Warui Ame
Boku ni Sasagu
"Subete no Yoru to Subete no Asa ni Tamborine o Narasu no da" (November 2, 2005)
Subete no Yoru to Subete no Asa ni Tambourine o Narasu no da
Ano Kane o Narasu no wa Anata
Hanarenai Futari
"Tegami" (March 15, 2006)
Tegami: Kitarubeki Ongaku to Shite
Get Back Sambomaster
Yoyogi nite
"Itoshisa to Kokoro no Kabe" (August 2, 2006)
Itoshisa to Kokoro no Kabe
Sekai wa Sore o Ai to Yobunda ze (live version)
"I Love You" (April 18, 2007)
I Love You
Beibi Beibi Su
Coaster
Kyōkai Mae Tōri
"Very Special!!" (July 25, 2007)
Very Special!!
Ubai Toru Koto Nitsuite
Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi (Sekai Rokku Senbatsu version)
"Hikari no Rock" (December 12, 2007) (theme song for BLEACH: The DiamondDust Rebellion)
Hikari no Rock
Hikari no Rock (Instrumental)
"Kimi wo Mamotte, Kimi wo Aishite" (June 10, 2009) (19th ending theme for Bleach)
Kimi wo Mamotte, Kimi wo Aishite
Akashi
Boku wa Jiyuu
Kimi wo Mamotte, Kimi wo Aishite (Bleach Version)
"Rabu Songu" (November 18, 2009) (English: Love Song)
Rabu Songu
Sekai wo Kaesasete okure yo
Rabu Songu (Instrumental)
Sekai wo Kaesasete okure yo (Instrumental)
"Dekikkonai o Yaranakucha" (February 24, 2010)
Dekikkonai o Yaranakucha
Pop Life
Boku no Namae wa Blues to iimasu
Dekikkonai o Yaranakucha (Instrumental)
"Kimi ni Kirei no Kizuite okure" (December 1, 2010)
Kimi ni Kirei no Kizuite okure (Kuragehime ED)
Introduction
Sekai wo Kaesasete okure yo (live version)
Zanzou (Live Version)
Kore de Jiyuu ni natta no Da (live version)
MC (Live Version)
Love Song (Live Version)
Sono Nukumori ni You ga aru (live version)
Dekikkonai wo Yaranakucha (live version)
"Kibo no Michi" (February 23, 2011)
Kibo bo Michi
Intro
Utagoe yo okore
Tsuki ni saku Hana no You ni naru no
MC 1
Baby Yasashi Yoru ga Kitte
Sayounara Baby
Sekai wa sore wo Ai to Yobunda ze
MC 2
Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
Outro
Albums
Atarashiki Nihongo Rock no Michi to Hikari (December 12, 2003)
English: The Way and Light of New Japanese Rock
Sambomaster wa kimi ni katarikakeru (January 19, 2005)
English: Sambomaster Is Talking to You
Boku to Kimi no Subete o Rock 'n Roll to Yobe (April 12, 2006)
English: Call Everything That We (You and I) Are 'Rock n' Roll
Ongaku no Kodomo wa Mina Utau (January 23, 2008)
English: All You Musical Kids, Sing
Kimi no Tameni Tsuyoku Naritai (April 21, 2010)
Sambomaster Kyukyou Besuto (February 23, 2011)
Sambomaster to Kimi (2015)
YES (March 20, 2018)
Concert DVDs
Atarashiki Nihongo Rock o Kimi ni Katarikakeru: Sambomaster Shoki no Live Eizōshū (November 2, 2005)
A UMD version with the same track list was released on November 30, 2005.
Kung-fu Rock: Aware na Bobu Isoide Ike yo
Itoshiki Hibi: Futari
Zanzō
Yogisha de Yattekita Aitsu: Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru
Yogisha de Yattekita Aitsu
Hito wa Sore o Jonetsu to Yobu
Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
Itoshiki Hibi
Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru
Asa
Seishun Kyōsōkyoku
Tegami
Yokubō Rock
Sayonara Baby
Utagoe yoo kore
Korede Jiyū ni Natta no Da
Shūmatsu Soul
Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru
Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no
Atarashiki Nihongo Rock no Video Clip Collection (October 18, 2006)
(Videoclip) Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru
(Videoclip) Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru (Studio Live Version)
(Videoclip) Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
(Videoclip) Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no
(Videoclip) Seishun Kyōsōkyoku (Haikyo Version)
(Videoclip) Seishun Kyōsōkyoku (Samba Version)
(Videoclip) Utagoe yo Okore
(Videoclip) Sekai wa Sore o Ai to Yobunda ze
(Videoclip) Subete no Yoru to Subete no Asa ni Tambourine o Narasu no da
(Videoclip) Tegami: Kitarubeki Ongaku to Shite
(Special Track) Making Clip – Seishun Kyōsōkyoku (Samba Version)
(Special Track) Making Clip – Sekai wa Sore o Ai to Yobunda ze
(Special Track) Making Clip – Subete no Yoru to Subete no Asa ni Tambourine o Narasu no da
(Special Track) TV Commercial
Boku to Kimi no subete wa Hibiya yagahi Ongaku-do de Utae (December 6, 2006)
Futari bocchi no Sekai
Zetsubou to Yokubou to Otokonoko to Onnanoko
Itoshisa to Kokoro no Kabe
Utagoe yo okore
Futatsu no Namida
Sekai wa sore wo Ai to Yobunda ze
Sensou to Boku
Boku to kimi no subete wa Atarashiki Uta de Utae
Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
Subete no Yoru to subete no Asa ni Tanbarin wo Narasu no da
Tegami
Sono Nukumori ni You ga aru
Nanigenakute idaina kimi
Tsuki ni saku Hana no You ni Naru no
Seishun Kyousoukyoku
Asa
Sekai rokku senbatsu fainaru zenkyoku yatte ura natsu fesu o buttobashita hi (March 12, 2008)
Utagoe yo okore
Zanzou
Kore de Jiyuu ni natta no Da
Hito wa sore wo Jounetsu to Yobu
Sayounara Baby
Very Special!!
Tsunagari
Konoyo no Hate
Omoide wa Yogisha ni notte
Ano musume no mizugi ni natte mitai noda
Zetsubou to Yokubou to Otokonoko to Onnanoko
Sad ballad no Sekai
Futari bocchi no Sekai
Boku to Kimi no subete wa Atarashiki Uta de Utae
Futari
Netchu Jidai
Seishun Kyousoukyoku
Asa
Anata ga hito o uragirunara boku wa dare ka o koroshite shimatta sa
Sekai wa soredemo Shizun de Ikundaze
Yogisha de yattekita aitsu
Muffler no Yoreru Aida ni
Oh Baby
Yoru ga Aketara
Yoyogi ni te
Baby Baby Sue
Baby Yasashi Yoru ga Kitte
Dan Dan
Kyoukai Mae Toori
Ubai toru koto nitsuite
Coaster
Soredemo Kamawanai
Boku ni Sasagu
Kimi no Koe wa Boku no Koi Boku wo Na wa Kimi no Yoru
Shoumatsu soul
Ano kane o Narasu no wa anata
Itoshiki Hibi
Hanarae nai Futari
Futatsu no Namida
Yokubou rock
Get back Sambomaster
Tokyo no Yoru sayounara
Atsui suna to warui Ame
Sensou to Boku
Ame
Nanigenakute idaina Kimi
I love you
Shinnon Fukei
Tegami
Itoshisato Kokoro no Kabe
Utsushiki Ningen no Hibi
Subete no Yoru to subete no Asa ni Tanbarin wo Narasu no Da
Tsuki ni saku Hana no You ni naru no
Sekai wa sore wo Ai to Yobunda ze
Sono Nukumori ni You ga aru
Other albums
Hōkago no Seishun (July 2, 2003)
Sambomaster appeared in a split album with the band Onanie Machine. This is the first appearance of some of Sambomaster's future hit songs, such as "Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi", "Tegami", and "Sononukumori ni Yō ga Aru" (as well as the other two in their own right). The versions on this album feature only Takeshi, Yasufumi, and Yoichi playing the songs. Later versions, such as the versions on their singles and albums, were touched up, polished, re-mixed, and sometimes re-recorded with extra musicians. In a sense, the songs on this album are the "original" versions. Sambomaster songs are tracks 6 to 10 below:
Mendokusee
Lovewagon
Boku wa Stalker
Soshiki
Pokochin
Sayonara Baby
Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
Tegami
Futari
Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru
E.V. Junkies II "Guitarocking" (June 30, 2004)
Sambomaster has 2 songs on this compilation album, tracks 9 and 14 below. "Itoshiki Hibi: Country Sad Ballad ver." is a version with Alice singing most of the vocals.
Kimi to iu Hana / Asian Kung-Fu Generation
Magic Words / Straightener
Mountain a Go Go / CaptainStraydum
Shalilala / Flow
Ima made nan domo / The Massmissile
Nostalgic / The Droogies
Jitterbug / Ellegarden
Gunjō / Tsubakiya Quartette
Tsunagari / Sambomaster
Shiroi Koe / Lunkhead
Boku no Sonzai wa Uso janakatta / Outlaw
Alive / Raico
Rakuyou: Long Ver. / Orange Range
Itoshiki Hibi: Country Sad Ballad ver. / Alice meets Sambomaster
Magokoro Covers (September 1, 2004)
Sambomaster recorded a cover of Magokoro Brothers' "Dear John Lennon" in this compilation album.
Endless Summer Nude (Tomita Lab. Remix) / 冨田ラボ
Sora ni Maiagare / Okuda Tamio
Ai / Halcali
Loop Slider / Suneohair
Ningen wa Mō Owari da! / Puffy
Stone / Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
Standard 3 / Rosetta Garden
Haikei, John Lennon / Sambomaster
Baby Baby Baby / Yuki
Subarashiki kono Sekai / Imawano Kiyoshirō
Atarashii Yoake / MB's
Koi no Mon original soundtrack (September 23, 2004)
Sambomaster was featured in the original soundtrack of the movie Koi no Mon. Sambomaster songs are tracks 1, 2, 14, 15, and 18 below:
Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no
Hito wa Sore o Jōnetsu to Yobu
Mohawk!
Four Finger
Noiko no Heya
Aquam
Ishi ga ite, Kimi ga ite
Big Site
Fukashigi Jikken Karada Gibarengaa
Fortress Europe
Office Blue
Agatha
S
Kono yo no Hate: koi no mon short version
Kono yo no Hate: koi no mon strings version
6:27
Kaisō
Sambomaster wa Shūmatsu ni Soul Instrument o suru no da no Kan
Koi no Mon
References
External links
Sambomaster's Official Site
Sony Music's Official Site
Japanese rock music groups
Japanese alternative rock groups
Sony Music Entertainment Japan artists
Musical groups from Tokyo